The NABARD Development Assistant Mains 2022, conducted on 24 December 2022, offered one of the clearest indicators of how Descriptive English is evolving in NABARD exams. Far from being a routine language paper, this section tested clarity of thought, development orientation, and execution under severe time pressure.
This post presents a premium, examiner-oriented analysis of the actual Descriptive English questions asked in 2022, along with actionable insights for aspirants preparing for upcoming cycles.
Exam Snapshot: Descriptive English (Mains 2022)
- Exam Date: 24 December 2022
- Conducting Body: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
- Section: Test of English Language (Descriptive)
- Total Marks: 50
- Time Duration: 30 minutes
- Questions: 3 (All compulsory)
👉 Candidates had to attempt Essay + Precis + Letter within 30 minutes, making it a lengthy paper relative to time.
Essay Writing Analysis (20 Marks | ~200 Words)
🔹 Topics Asked
- Importance of Rainwater Harvesting and its Characteristic Features
- Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
🔍 What These Topics Reveal
Both topics reflect NABARD’s institutional DNA:
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Environment + sustainability
- Rural infrastructure relevance
- Long-term developmental impact
- Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)
- Core economic concept
- Testing conceptual clarity
- Ability to explain economics in simple language
📌 Key Insight:
NABARD essays are not opinion essays. They demand:
- conceptual definition,
- structured development,
- policy or development linkage.
Candidates who wrote generic social essays or used flowery language without structure were unlikely to score well.
Precis Writing Analysis (20 Marks | 150 Words)
🔹 Topic Given
- “Progress of science and technology to eradicate hunger and poverty”
🔍 Why This Precis Was Tricky
This passage tested:
- analytical reading,
- ability to identify the central argument,
- skill to compress complex ideas without distortion.
📌 Critical Examiner Expectation:
- Preserve the cause–effect–solution logic
- Eliminate examples and repetitions
- Maintain a neutral, institutional tone
Many aspirants lost marks due to:
- paraphrasing instead of compressing,
- adding personal opinions,
- exceeding word limit.
Letter Writing Analysis (10 Marks | 150 Words)
🔹 Options Given
- Application for park renovation
- Invitation letter for an event in your society
🔍 What NABARD Tested Here
- ability to write functional English,
- correct format and tone,
- clarity of purpose.
📌 Key Observation:
Letter writing was not difficult, but it became a time trap for candidates who overwrote or struggled with structure.
Difficulty Level: Not Hard, But Compressed
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate
- Primary Challenge: Severe time constraint
Writing approximately 500 words (essay + precis + letter) in 30 minutes means:
- no time for thinking while writing,
- no scope for experimentation.
Candidates lost marks due to:
- incomplete answers,
- rushed conclusions,
- poor sequencing.
What the 2022 Paper Clearly Tells Aspirants
✅ 1. Structure Beats Vocabulary
Marks were awarded for:
- logical flow,
- clarity,
- relevance.
Not for:
- fancy words,
- complex grammar.
✅ 2. Precis Is a Major Differentiator
With 20 marks, precis writing separated:
- average scorers (8–12),
- from prepared candidates (14–16+).
Ignoring precis is a strategic mistake.
✅ 3. Development Orientation Is Non-Negotiable
Even abstract topics (like PPP) were expected to be:
- explained simply,
- linked to development outcomes.
How Aspirants Should Prepare Based on 2022 Trends
📌 Essay
- Prepare development- and economy-linked themes
- Use a fixed 3–4 paragraph structure
- Avoid emotional or narrative writing
📌 Precis
- Practise identifying the central argument
- Focus on elimination, not expansion
- Maintain strict word discipline
📌 Letter
- Memorise standard formats
- Keep content precise and formal
- Finish within 6–7 minutes
Bank Whizz Insight: Why 2022 Is a Benchmark Paper
The 2022 Descriptive English paper shows that NABARD:
- values clarity over creativity,
- rewards discipline under time pressure,
- expects institutional writing, not school-level English.
At Bank Whizz, our preparation philosophy is built exactly around these principles—helping aspirants convert limited time into reliable marks.
Final Takeaway
The NABARD Development Assistant 2022 Descriptive English paper was not meant to surprise candidates.
It was meant to filter them.
Those who:
- understood examiner expectations,
- followed fixed writing frameworks,
- managed time strictly,
turned this section into a rank booster.
For others, it became a silent eliminator.